Bolton in fine fettle for fifteenth season

But if anyone else harboured doubts about the Sydney veteran's decision to extend his 301-game AFL career, they would have done well to watch his 3km time trial on Friday, when the premiers' full squad returned to pre-season training.

The 32-year-old bettered his best time from last season, with the partially-torn posterior and anterior cruciate ligaments in his left knee having healed without surgery.

"Absolutely, it does (give me confidence). You want to put a good time on the board, just so you know where you're at as well," Bolton said.

"Having no post-season surgery (helps) ... the knee has really settled down now and it's feeling good.

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"My wife and I mostly hung around Sydney and Melbourne, so I've been able to train here and do a bit. I feel nice and fresh."

While Friday was the official start for the experienced Swans' pre-season program, Bolton has been shaping up over the past three weeks after opting to continue a one-club career that started with pick No.8 in the 1998 draft.

Despite their premiership status, the likes of Bolton and Ted Richards made a low-key return to the track, with TV cameramen more interested in camping outside nearby NRL headquarters while drawn-out pay talks continued.

As expected, co-captain Adam Goodes (knee) did not take part.

"It's good to be back into it," Bolton said.

"You see all the other teams start back up and you sit around and start questioning yourself a bit."

Bolton said his teammates were cautiously excited about the prospect of former Adelaide forward Kurt Tippett joining the club.

"He's a super-talented player. We saw in the prelim final against Hawthorn how well he played there," the no-nonsense midfielder said.

"But the simple fact is we haven't got him yet. We'll have to wait until (the pre-season draft on) Tuesday to see whether we do get him.

"With or without him, we've got to keep improving. We're about constant improvement at this club."